Bastille Day 2026 in Houdan (78): fireworks canceled, countryside meal and dance still on.

The town of Houdan, in the Yvelines, is lining up a splendid Bastille Day celebration for July 13 and 14, 2026. On the program: a torchlit procession, a rustic countryside-style feast, and a lively community dance—despite the fireworks being cancelled!

As the department enters a red heatwave alert and in line with a prefectural order, the July 13 fireworks display has been cancelled.

All other July 13 events are going ahead as planned:

Lantern lanterns parade (lanterns handed out to children on the town hall forecourt)

Majorette demonstration

musical performance by the batucada

Community dance party until 2 a.m.

The July 14th meal is also going ahead.

However, in accordance with the prefectural order, alcohol consumption is prohibited.

For Bastille Day, the Île-de-France region goes all out. To mark the occasion, the country comes alive with traditional celebrations, including fireworks, military parades, republican picnics, popular dances, and other festive events, from Paris to the outer suburbs.

In the regions, people tend to kick off the festivities the night before July 14, turning the celebration into a full two days—it's even better! Here are smart tips to find a cracking program near you, while the wanderers seize the chance to discover the treasures of Île-de-France.

The town of Houdan in the Yvelines is pulling out all the stops, staging a two-day festival. For the National Day, this charming medieval town and its keep will welcome you starting the evening of July 13, 2026, with a wealth of free and entertaining activities for friends and family.

The occasion also to discover the city's history and its many secrets, well guarded since the Middle Ages, including the donjon du XIIe siècle, the Église Saint-Jacques‑le‑Majeur‑et‑Saint‑Christophe, the Gothic edifice with a Montserrat pilgrimage fresco (1582) and a restored 1739 Cliquot organ, or the remnants of the ramparts, witnesses to medieval fortifications.

The 2026 Bastille Day program for Houdan (Yvelines):

July 13 at 9:45 p.m.: a torch-lit procession with lanterns handed out
10:45 p.m.: the parade begins, featuring the Dixmude’s majorettes and the marching band
11:00 p.m.: fireworks display
until 2:00 a.m.: a lively public dance
July 14, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: a countryside-style picnic lunch
from 3:00 p.m.: activities and games for all ages

Bastille Day: where to watch fireworks on the outskirts of Paris on July 13 and 14, 2026?
Looking for a spot near Paris that’s easy to reach by public transit to catch the Bastille Day fireworks? Here are the inner-suburb towns offering a pyrotechnic show on July 13 and 14, 2026, to celebrate the National Day. [Read more]